Ariana
The moment Ryder said he’d let me go, I could hardly believe it. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt free. Free from his constant presence, his obsession, and the weight of the bond that had been suffocating me. My wolf, however, growled in the back of my mind, furious and restless, but I pushed her aside. This was what I wanted. This was what I needed.
As I made my way back to the clearing where Ethan and Mia were standing, I felt a surge of relief rush through me. I spotted them talking and couldn’t help myself—I sprinted over, throwing my arms around them in a tight hug, squeezing them both as hard as I could.
“Whoa!” Ethan stumbled a bit, laughing as he returned the hug. “What’s gotten into you? You’re practically glowing.”
Mia, her usual calm self, raised a
